---
layout: api
page_title: Variable Locks - HTTP API
description: The /var endpoints are used to query for and interact with variables and locks.
---

# Locks HTTP API

The `/var` endpoint is used to hold, renew and release a lock over a variable.

## Lock Variable

The endpoint to create a variable can also be used to hold a lock and interact with
it through the use of a parameter defining the operation to be performed.

| Method | Path                                 | Produces           |
|--------|--------------------------------------|--------------------|
| `PUT`  | `/v1/var/:var_path?<lock-operation>` | `application/json` |

### Parameters

The lock operation parameter can be:

- `lock-acquire`: When used, the call will introduce a lock over the variable if
it exists, or create a new one if it doesn't. The lock ID will be returned in the
response and it must be provided to perform any other operation over the lock.
The variable items can be updated at any time using the lock ID, but the lock
parameters are unmmutable, attempting to modify them while a lock is present will
generate an error.

In the case of attempting to acquire a variable that is already locked, a conflict
response will be returned.

The lock-acquire operation will override the variable items if new values are
present.


#### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    -XPUT -d@spec.nsv.json \
    https://localhost:4646/v1/var/example/first?lock-acquire
```

#### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "Namespace": "prod",
  "Path": "example/first",
  "Items": {
    "user": "me",
    "password": "passw0rd1"
  },
  "Lock": {
    "TTL": "15s",
    "LockDelay": "1m"
  }
}
```

#### Sample Response

The response body returns the created or updated variable including the lock
parameters and ID, along with metadata created by the server:

```json
{
  "CreateIndex": 15,
  "CreateTime": 1694552155379696000,
  "Items": {
    "user": "me",
    "password": "passw0rd1"
  },
  "Lock": {
    "TTL": "15s",
    "LockDelay": "15s",
    "ID": "670c7248-e2ef-f982-e4c5-f4437f75f1e4"
  },
  "ModifyIndex": 16,
  "ModifyTime": 1694552206138804000,
  "Namespace": "prod",
  "Path": "example/first"
}
```

- `lock-renew`: A valid call to lock renew needs to be placed before the lock's
TTL is up in order to mantain the variable locked. A valid call must include the
lock ID as part of the request body. If the lock TTL is up without a renewal or
release calls, the variable will remain unlockable for at least the lock delay.

#### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    -XPUT -d@spec.nsv.json \
    https://localhost:4646/v1/var/example/first?lock-renew
```

#### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "Path": "example/first",
  "Namespace": "prod",
  "Lock": {
    "ID": "670c7248-e2ef-f982-e4c5-f4437f75f1e4"
  }
}
```

#### Sample Response

The response body only returns metadata created by the server and the lock
parameters:

```json
{
  "CreateIndex": 11,
  "CreateTime": 1694555280887153000,
  "Lock": {
    "TTL": "15s",
    "LockDelay": "15s",
    "ID": "670c7248-e2ef-f982-e4c5-f4437f75f1e4"
  },
  "ModifyIndex": 43,
  "ModifyTime": 1694556175092779000,
  "Namespace": "prod",
  "Path": "example/first"
}
```

- `lock-release`: A call to the endpoint with the `lock-release` operation will
immediately remove the lock over the variable, making it modifiable without
restrictions again.

The lock-release operation will not override the variable items, if the request
body contains any item, it will generate a bad request response.

#### Sample Request

```shell-session
$ curl \
    -XPUT -d@spec.nsv.json \
    https://localhost:4646/v1/var/example/first?lock-release
```

#### Sample Payload

```json
{
  "Path": "example/first",
  "Namespace": "prod",
  "Lock": {
    "ID": "670c7248-e2ef-f982-e4c5-f4437f75f1e4"
  }
}
```

#### Sample Response

The response body returns the released variable along with metadata
created by the server:

```json
{
  "CreateIndex": 11,
  "CreateTime": 1694555280887153000,
  "ModifyIndex": 66,
  "ModifyTime": 1694556922600469000,
  "Namespace": "prod",
  "Path": "example/first"
}
```

### Sample Response for Conflict

In the case of an attempt to lock, renew or modify a locked variable
without the correct ID, the API will return HTTP error code
409 and a response body showing the conflicting variable. If the provided ACL
token does not also have `read` permissions to the variable path, the response
will include only metadata and not the `Items` field:

```json
{
  "CreateIndex": 0,
  "CreateTime": 0,
  "Items": null,
  "Lock": null,
  "ModifyIndex": 0,
  "ModifyTime": 0,
  "Namespace": "default",
  "Path": "example/first"
}
```

## Restrictions

When creating a new variable using the lock-acquire operation, all the known
[restrictions][] regarding the path and size of the content apply, but unlike
regular variables, locked variables can be created with or without any items.

The lock TTL and Delay must be values between 10 seconds and 24 hours.

[Variables]: /nomad/docs/concepts/variables
[restrictions]: /nomad/api-docs/variables/variables#restrictions
[`nomad var`]: /nomad/commands/var
[blocking queries]: /nomad/api-docs#blocking-queries
[required ACLs]: /nomad/api-docs#acls
[RFC3986]: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc3986#section-2
